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Guide updated on 9 November 2026

Camping in Madeira: camping zones, permits and rules

Where to pitch your tent on the Madeira Crossing: the IFCN camping zones, the €5 permit, the ban on wild camping and the rules to follow.

There are almost no staffed huts on the Madeira Crossing: in the mountains, you sleep in a tent, in the IFCN's designated camping zones. Wild camping is prohibited in forests and natural areas.

The permit

  • An IFCN camping permit is compulsory, to be obtained on the SIMplifica portal.
  • Price: €5 per tent per night for non-residents (Portarias 801/2025 and 48/2026). Some tourist websites still say it is free: they are out of date.
  • Keep the permit on you to show to the forest police.

Camping zones on the crossing

ZoneStageAltitudeAccessWater / toilets
Chão das Feiteirasend of stage 11,230 mon the routewater, no toilets
Poisostage 21,395 mon the routeno water or toilets (restaurant nearby)
Pico Ruivoend of stage 21,790 mon the route, very smallwater and toilets at the hut, 200 m away
Chão dos Lourosend of stage 3805 m0.7 km from Encumeadawater and toilets
Caramujostage 41,255 mon the routeno facilities
Bica da Canastage 41,560 m200 m from the routewater and toilets
Estanquinhosstage 41,540 m150 m from the routeno water or toilets
Estanquinhos – Fontes Ruivasend of stage 41,510 mon the routefire pit only
Fanalend of stage 51,135 mon the routewater, no toilets

Facilities read from the pictograms on the IFCN pages (November 2026); hikers' reports sometimes differ, particularly regarding water at Estanquinhos.

Other zones are close to the route: Ribeiro Frio, Terreiros, Cruzes de Baixo, Ribeira do Alecrim. They are all detailed on our campsites page.

Capacity not published: the IFCN pages do not give the number of pitches, and some zones only take a few tents, like the one at Pico Ruivo: book early.

The campsite at the finish

In Ribeira da Janela, a few steps from the end of the crossing, the Porto Moniz municipal campsite reopened in August 2026 after works: hot showers, a cooking area and Wi-Fi. It is a conventional campsite, run by the municipality, which does not require an IFCN permit. See the page.

Rules to follow

  • No fires, except in the fire pits provided; do not smoke in the forest and check the fire risk.
  • Do not cut wood, pick plants or feed animals.
  • Take all your rubbish away with you and respect the peace and quiet.
  • Gas canisters are sold in supermarkets and sports shops in Funchal; check that they fit your stove.

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